Directors of the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Foster Grandparents Program, Stacey Venteicher and Melanie Miller, met with the Carroll County Board of Supervisors to review the past year and discuss funding for the upcoming fiscal year 2016/17 budget planning. Venteicher, with RSVP, said both programs had gone through a three-day federal compliance visit and an audit this past year. She reported all went very well and they received good feedback from the state. One of the highlighted projects was the placement of mini libraries in various communities in the county.
They partnered with Glidden-Ralston students who built the libraries and volunteers are maintaining the take-a-book, leave-a-book program. Venteicher said they worked with Foster Grandparents this year to sign and distribute cards at the Hy-Vee Veterans Day breakfast. They are also gathering donations during their holiday open house to help the Carroll Area Childcare Center, The Manning Daycare and head start replenish their craft supplies. Miller said the Foster Grandparent’s 11 current members celebrated a milestone this year.
The biggest change they are working to implement for the Foster Grandparents program is a 501(c)3 designation so both RSVP and Foster Grandparents can apply for the same grants. Venteicher told the supervisors her program receives $26,710 in federal funding, $7,100 in state funding and the $9,000 local match. She is not asking for anything extra in the next fiscal year.
Miller said Foster Grandparent’s funding is $55,142 in federal money, $1,000 from the county and it is well-supported in the community. The supervisors agreed this is a great asset for the community and a necessary outlet for the elderly residents. They will use the reported information during upcoming budget planning sessions.
